TeachKidsArt

a resource for teachers and parents

Creative Extension Spinner for Early Finishers

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December’s digital challenge at the Children’s Museum of the Arts in NYC is all about telling stories using cardboard story wheels. For a creative twist on this theme, try extending and enhancing the meaning of your students' art using a Creative Extension Spinner.... perfect for your early finishers! If you notice an increase in early finishers at the end of a … [Read more...]

Happy Birthday, Teach Kids Art!

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(Visit me on Instagram for a chance to win my TEN most popular products from my TPT store!) Ten years ago today, Teach Kids Art was born! I was teaching K-8 Art at a small private school and putting SO much work into every lesson I taught. It was rare for schools to provide an Art curriculum to work from.... most Art teachers were just expected to create their own. And this … [Read more...]

How to Learn Your Students’ Names FAST!

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With each new school year, teachers everywhere face the daunting task of learning the names of all their new students. Whether you teach a single grade level class of 20 students or you teach multiple classes of art, music or PE and see the entire school every week,  you’ll want to learn your students' names fast…. and the faster the better! I’m convinced that no single … [Read more...]

4 Keys to Getting Started with Clay

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I fell in love with clay when I took my first college Ceramics class as a freshman. I enjoyed all of my art classes, but when it was time to choose an area of emphasis for my Art degree I didn’t hesitate…. Ceramics for the win!!  I’m not alone in my fondness for clay. Kids of all ages LOVE working with clay!! And teachers can love it, too.... although it can be intimidating … [Read more...]

Full Circle… A Journey in Art Education

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Have you noticed how many elementary Art teachers started out as volunteers in their own kids’ classes? SO many! This speaks volumes for how addicting teaching Art to kids can be! My own journey in art education began as a parent volunteer in my daughter’s kindergarten class many years ago. The joy I found in teaching kids about ART led me back to school for a teaching … [Read more...]

My Bullet Journal FAIL

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Have you ever been so convinced that something would be a game changer for you, only to fail miserably with it?? This was how I felt when I set up my first “BuJo”, a.k.a. Bullet Journal. Okay, maybe I’m being a bit dramatic…. my bullet journal didn’t actually end up in the recycle bin, although it came very close! I’m a "learn by doing" kind of person, which for me … [Read more...]

2 NEW Tips for Using Prang Watercolor Sets in Your Classroom

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For decades, the Prang OVL-8 Watercolor Set has been a staple in elementary classrooms far and wide. Their convenience, consistent quality and affordable price is hard to beat. A while back I posted 6 tips for success using these popular watercolor sets, and then even more watercolor tips here. Adding to all this, one of my readers, a missionary teaching art to kids in … [Read more...]

Letter to a First Year Art Teacher – Practical Advice from the Trenches

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Dear First Year Art Teacher, Congratulations on your new job teaching Art! You are embarking on a wonderful adventure! There will be days ahead when you'll declare to anyone who will listen that you have the BEST job in the world. There is SO much to LOVE about teaching Art! But, as with all things, there will be challenging times, too. I’d like to share some things I’ve … [Read more...]

Scholastic Art Giveaway

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When the editor of Scholastic Art contacted me about reviewing their magazine on my blog and hosting a giveaway, I jumped at the chance! Scholastic Art has a special place in my heart. As a high school senior, I was chosen to receive a Scholastic Art Scholarship to an art school in Boston. Even though I had to decline the scholarship, the honor of being selected gave me a huge … [Read more...]

Why Sharing a Classroom Might Be Better Than You Thought…. and 5 Ways to Make it Work

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Let’s face it, given the choice, we’d all prefer to have our own space. But consider this…. maybe sharing a classroom isn't so bad after all. I used to dream of having my own classroom… complete with storage for supplies and a sink for clean up. A place I could call my own and make my own decisions about. A teaching space where I could leave things set up, knowing the room … [Read more...]